Oil separating apparatus



y 1941- R. G.MAKELY OIL SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1939 m H K\N M R n mN m 3 H 1 Mex wkwkww QB F l M J 4 NM, Y J. m IIIY B MN mm wwMN 8 Q Q r v jr Patented July 29, 1941 OIL SEPARATING APPARATUS Ralph G.Makely, West New Brighton, N. Y., as-

- signer to The Superheater Company, New York, 1

Application December 15, 1939,.Serial No. 309,409

3 Claims.

A My invention relates to improvements in separators and particularlythose employed to separate oil from steam exhausted from engines, such-as locomotive engines.

At least part of the steam exhausted from the engines of a locomotive iscommonly utilized in exhaust steam injectors or feed water heaters ofeither the open or closed type. The lubrication of the locomotiveenginesresults in entrainment of oil and grease by the exhaust steam andit is desirable to remove the oil, particularly where it may be carriedto the locomotive boiler with the feed water as a result of beingutilized in injectors or feed water heaters. Practically all exhauststeam from locomotive engines is superheated and it has been found thatthe separation of oil or grease in the presence of superheated steam isdiflicult. The present invention contemplates a partial desuperheatingof the exhaust steam or more particularly the spraying of moisture intothe steam in order to facilitate the separation of oil and greasetherefrom.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational View of a locomotive equipped witha feed water heating system and an oil separating system embodying oneform of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a broken-away view of an enlarged scale of an oil separatingsystem with some parts shown in section, a second and preferred form ofthe invention being illustrated in this figure Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryelevational View of a locomotive feed water system embodying anothermodified arrangement.

Feed water taken from the locomotive tender through a suction line H) isforced by an injector H to the locomotive boiler |2 through a deliveryline l3. The injector is of the type which operates on exhaust steamwhen available in sufficient amount during operation of the locomotiveand a conduit l4 connects the exhaust of engine it to the injector.Conduit M has an oil separator of any suitable type located therein, theseparator being designated by the numeral l3. Whenever the injector H isoperating, the water valve 2!] (Fig. 2) is open admitting water to thechamber 2| to be forced into the boiler either by live steam or exhauststeam from the locomotive engine. With the arrangement illustrated inFig. 2 the chamber 2| is connected by piping 22, 23, 24 to the exhauststeam conduit I3 at a point between the engine I5 and the oil separatorI6. A suitable nozzle or the like 25 is employed so that cool watertaken from the injector chamber 2| and supplied through this piping issprayed into the exhaust steam passing from the engines to the oilseparator It. Between the sections 23 and 24 of the piping is aninjector 23 for drawing water from chamber 2| and forcing it intoconduit Hi, this injector, receiving water from the section 23 and steamfrom the locomotive engines through apipe 27. Interposed between thesections 22, 23 of the piping is a valve casing 33 containing a valvemember 3|. The valve is normally held closed by a' spring 32 acting inopposition to steam pressure applied to a piston 33 through a conduit33. This conduit is in communication with vthe cylinder 36* that isprovided for the piston that opens the exhauststeam valve 31 of theinjector. Whenever sufficient exhaust steam is available to operate theinjector, the usual changeover mechanism such as that disclosed in HardPatent Re. 19,229 dated July 3, 1934, causes steam to be admitted tocylinder 36 toysubject the piston therein to steam pressure for openingthe exhaust steam valve 31. Coincidentally, steam flows through conduit34 to act on piston 33.

Whenever the injector H is operating, Water valve 23 is open andaccordingly cool water from the tender may be taken from chamber 2| andsprayed into the exhaust steam conduit l4 through the piping 22, 23, 24provided the valve 3| is open. When suificient exhaust steam isavailable for operating the injector the change. over mechanism causessteam to be admitted to the cylinder for piston 36, resulting in openingof the exhaust steam valve 31 of the injector. Inasmuch as the piping 34is in communication with the chamber 36 this pressure also acts onpiston 33 overcoming the force of spring 32 to open the valve 3| topermit water to pass from the injector through the piping 22, 23, 24 tobe sprayed into the steam flowing from the engine I5 to the oilseparator IS on its way to the injector.

Instead of taking water from the chamber 2| of the injector the pipe 22may be connected to the water delivery line |3 through which theinjector forces water to the locomotive boiler, as illustrated in Fig.1, and an injector is not required in piping 23, 2A.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the water that is sprayed into theexhaust steam is taken by means of piping from a steam and Waterseparator or so-called tangential drier 4|.

My theory is that the water sprayed into the 2 tion in separator Hi. Inaddition to aiding in the separation of oil from the exhaust steam, theaddition of moisture to the steam by spraying water into it increasesthe fuel saving attained by the injector. Although the B. t. u. contentof steam per pound is decreased, the specific volume is reduced to suchan extent that more steam is condensed by the injector and the total B.t. u. value of exhaust steam entering the injector is increased, therebyincreasing the fuel saving of the injector. Better performance may beobtained from the injector due to the possible increase in efficiencywhich results from an increased density of the injector jet.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with the feedWater system utilizing the exhaust steam injector, it will be apparentthat it is also applicable to systems Where the feed water is heated byexhaust steam in a heater of either the open or closed type because inall cases it is desirable to'remove oil and-grease from exhaust steamwhere there is a possibility that otherwise it may enter the boiler.

v What I claim is:

1. In combination with an injector for forcing feed water into a boiler,a conduit connecting said injector to the exhaust of a steam engine, andan oil separator interposed in said conduit between said engine and saidinjector; a source T of water connected to said injector; pipingconnecting the suction water side of said injector to said exhaust steamconduit at a point between said engine and said separator; and means forT circulating water through said piping and spraying it into the exhauststeam flowing therethrough before it enters said separator.

2. In combination'with a boiler feed water injector supplied withexhaust steam through a conduit connecting it to a steam engine, a valvecontrolling admission of exhaust steam to said injector from saidconduit; means for opening said valve when exhaust steam is available;and an oil separator interposed in said conduit between said engine andsaid injector; a source of water; piping connecting said water source tosaid exhaust steam conduit at a point between said engine and saidseparator for spraying water into the exhaust steam before it enterssaid separator; a normally closed valve in said piping; and meansoperative, when said exhaust steam valve is opened, to open saidlast-mentioned and an oil separator interposed in said conduit etweensaid engine and said injector; a source of water; piping connecting thewater delivery side of said injector to said exhaust steam conduit at apoint between said engine and said separator for spraying water into theexhaust steam "before it enters said separator; a normally closed valvein'said piping; and means operative, when said exhaust steam valve isopened, to open said last-mentioned valve.

RALPH G. MAKELY.

